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XRAC MEETING NOTES – FEBRUARY, 2022

XRAC MEETING NOTES – FEBRUARY, 2022

Overview

On February 8, 2022, the XR Association convened the first-ever meeting of the Future of XR Advisory Council (XRAC), an independent advisory council focused on defining the XR ecosystem and informing the ongoing work of the XR Association. At the onset of the meeting,  leaders from the  XR Association shared their vision for XRAC, which include: 

  • Articulate a shared vision of a new computing platform that encompasses creators and participants (Metaverse, Multiverse, Omniverse, Digital Twin, etc.). 
  • Create a roadmap that identifies milestones to achieve a shared vision of a new computing platform
  • Develop detailed work plans toward principles and recommendations for policymakers that advance trust, safety & well-being, and DEI&A in XR

During the afternoon convening, members and attendees discussed:

  • Definitions and frameworks  – The council discussed their thoughts on how the industry should discuss the XR ecosystem, measure success and key issues / policies the industry should champion collectively. 
  • Specific issue areas through breakout discussion – Participants broke out into small groups to discuss Trust; Safety & Well Being; and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access(ibility). 

Members & Attendees

  • Noble Ackerson, President, CyberXR Coalition 
  • Daniel Castro, Vice President and Director of the ITIF Center for Data Innovation,  The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) 
  • Alexandra Givens, President & CEO, Center for Democracy & Technology 
  • Dan Guenther, Managing Director and XR Lead, Accenture 
  • Cathy Hackl, Chief Metaverse Officer, Futures Intelligence Group 
  • James Hairston, Director of Policy, Meta Reality Labs 
  • Muhsinah L. Holmes Morris, Director, Morehouse in the Metaverse; Assistant Professor, Morehouse College
  • Daniel Kluttz, Sensitive Uses Program Lead, Office of Responsible AI, Microsoft 
  • Jim Kohlenberger, President, JK Strategies 
  • Ana Lang, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Magic Leap 
  • Blair MacIntyre, Professor in the School of Interactive Computing in the College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology 
  • Daniel O’Brien, HTC Americas President, Global Head of Enterprise, HTC 
  • Michael Preston, Executive Director, Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop 
  • Philip Rosedale, Inventor, Founder, High Fidelity & Second Life 
  • Todd Tokubo, Peripherals and XR, Future Technology Group at PlayStation
  • Amitabh Varshney, Dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences and Professor of Computer Science, University of Maryland at College Park 
  • Wilson White, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google 
  • Tarrah Wilson, Director of Product Management for AR/VR/Gaming, Unity
  • Elizabeth Hyman, XR Association 
  • Laura Chadwick, XR Association 
  • Stephanie Montgomery, XR Association 
  • Joan O’Hara, XR Association 
  • Bethany Reitsma, XR Association 
  • Ronn Ferguson, XR Association 
  • Jason Boxt, 3W Insights
  • Andrea O’Neal, Glen Echo Group 

Key Takeaways

  • Few people currently understand that in the future, most of their digital tools will be part of the XR universe. Immersive experiences do not always happen through head-mounted displays,  or other headsets.
  • Defining XR will be critical to its wide-spread adoption. Currently, there appears to be a gap in public understanding of what exactly is “XR” and the “metaverse”.  There needs to be a distinction between the two.
  • The industry is at a critical moment, meaning there must be standards and regulations put in place to ensure safety, security and trust amongst users  in order for XR to flourish. 
  • Technology must be democratized. As we think about diverse individuals in the industry, it’s important to recognize skills outside of engineering, which can include technical and digital arts.  
  • Although there are generally positive views of the “metaverse” and “XR”, there are concerns around privacy and safety. Trust between consumers and manufacturers must be  created and maintained.

Next Steps

These takeaways and goals will serve as a driving factor in the continued work of the XRAC. Council members will plan to convene in the second quarter, and will commence work plans for key priorities. 

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